Time controlled device for gas appliances



Feb. A26, 1935. Q B, DUSHANE, JR 1,992,198

TIME-CONTROLLED DEVICE FOR GASAPPLIANGES Fiied Feb. 3, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 c. B. bUsHANE, JR' 1,992,198 I TIME coNTRoLLE DEVICE 'FOR'GAS APPLIANCES Filed Feb. 3, 1952 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 26, 1935.

atentedFebZtl, 1935 Y t UNITleLD:v` errar as PATENT OFFICE; f :riMr: oonTRor-.LED DEVICE Fon GAS g .APrgLIANoEs y y `,lp-#Charles Benson Dushane; Jr.,` Chicago, Ill. Application Feb'ary s', 1,9324, serviarNu. 590,667

" s claims.) (o1. rs1-cya Mylinventionirelates in :generalto controllable Anotherl importantV object is to provide av coin devices and hasfmore particular reference tothe controllinwcombinationwith a "clockworkfmech-l controlofipower consumingdevicesbymeans lof, `anis'm foricontrolling the operation Vof` a switch a token,4 such as a coin,v depositedtolperniit the" `or valve to deliver power to a poweroperated de- 1 VIS' device to be conditioned for operation through vice and at the same time winding the clockwork 5 the .supply of operating powerifthereto; and the mechanism." l f i invention relates more particularly to A`the pro.4 Another importantlobjectis toprovide alcoin vision ofrcoin ortoken controlled mechanism for controlof the class described in combination withY controlling the supplyoffuelfto thedevice'ifor aicontinuously operated .iclockpreferably electhe operationthereof. trically driven, whereby operating power' may be l0` Devicesof this general :character are especially` deliveredto a device tobe operated upon the dewelladapted forfuse infconnection with themer posit of a coinor. tokenandwherein the clockhandsing of power Operatedpparatus; such work mechanism'is adapted'to interrupt the pow# for instance as mechanical refrigeratorspon the er supply aftera predeterminedtime delay.

I partial payment-plamand my invention has,"for t Another important .object Aof the. invention is 15 an important object, theyprovision of coin ,con-i toprovde a devicezof the classldescribed with trolled means for use in connection with mechani-i ,means for delivering continuously a minimal flow cal refrigerators and thellike so that the same 4of power orpower medium to the power Operated' may beV supplied with anwoperating power meV devicerin orderfto maintain standby conditions l Y 20. diurn for a predetermined interval only after in the operated deVCeSO that When the `0011'0101 20 the deposit. of a' coin. t i is actuated to set the device in operatiomit will Another important object of the invention is be automatically Self-Starting. l i v to provide acoin controlled mechanismV foriuse t AnOthel' important object iS t0 DlOVde a device in connection with the fuel supply ofVv aga-s or 0f the class described of simple, inexpensive C011- l other fuel consumingdevice :in order todeliver struction that'can be madecheaplveIlOugh to125` fuel to the device for. a, predeterminedtime in-` enable il; t0 `be used With deViCeS Sold upon the terval in response to the deposit of a coin or token partial paymentplan andjwhich canbe adjusted whereby the device may be paid for as it is used. SOaS to require the payment at ntervalsof money Anotherimportantobject is toprovide a coin sunicient-tomeet; the required payments under controlfor fuel operated apparatus wherein coin the sales agreement Yor partial payment plan un-` 30 operationof the control mechanism is entirely der which the device is'deliveredto the purchaser. independent'of the fuel metering mechanism and .Y NUmBIOUS 01311612 VObjCtS` .and advantages' Will merely controls theoperation ofthe particular be apparent asthe invention more fully underl device with which it is'tassociated in order to perfstood fromgthelfollowingidescription, which; takmitthe device itself to be used for a limited time en in connection with the accompanying drawings; 35 interval inresponse to the deposit of acoin or discloses a preferred Aembodiment'of myfzinven"v other token, ther fuel used being paid for'sepation. l Y y i 1 rately. t i Y A A Referring tothe drawings: e i l Another importantobjectis togprovide a con- Figure "1 is a perspective View of a mechanical 40 trol device of the class described in which several refrigerator/of theytypef utilizing a-gasflame to 40 tokens may be deposited at one `time in order to produce the power for operating therrefri'gerator i provide for the operation ofthecontrolled deviceA and having a coin operating devicerfor controlling over an extended time interval withoutdepositing the supplyof gas tothe refrigeratorv as an oper-f tokens at intervals. g l ating power medium;

Another` important objectV of the invention ris VFigure'Z is a verticalsection longitu-V 45 to provide a device of the class described with ,dially of the coin operated-controL'the parts bemeans for indicating, atany time during the op-A ing shownin operating position; 1 l, y. eration of the device, the time interval before it Y Figure 3v isla fragmentary view ofv `a. portion will be necessary to deposit another coin or ,token Vof the dei/ice illustrated nlFgule 2 `Showing the l in the device in order to? continue it in operation. Darts iivIODeTtiVe O1A Stand-DY- pOStOni; 50

Another important object isrtoprovide al' coin Figure 4 iS a veticalsection taken substancontrol in combination with artiming device for tially along the line 4 4 in Figure 3 operating a control valve controlling the flow ofY Figure 5` is a 'fragmentary view of a. portion power, or apowermedium, `to a power 'operated ofthe devicelshown in liigure'lillandv illustrating device. L Y theiuse of a continuously operating clockwork 55 21 mechanism, as for instance, an electrical clock assembled in the'de'vice in place of the spring- Y drivenV clock employed in the device illustrated in Figure 2; and f Figurev 6 is a section taken substantially along Y the line 6-6 in Figure 4 to illustrate the details of construction of the uid fuel control Valve that is employed in the illustrated embodiment for the purpose of controlling the now of fuel to the i device.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawings,V a mechanical refrigerator llofv The device 17 comprises means, manuallyop-f.

erable upontthe deposit of a suitable coin or. token in the device, to set up a flowjof the power mediuml to .the Yrefrige'rating Vmechanism.l for theY operation of the saine, and a time-delay Vshut-off, which is conditioned Vto discontinue the iiow VVof the power mediumY after 'a predetermined.'interval.r .The several devices of the coin control are preferably mounted in a suitable frame 19'and the whole enclosed in a suitable casing 21. The combustible power medium is introducedrinto the coin col-- trol from a remote'sourcethrough the pipe or conduit 23, which1entersr the case21thrcugh a suitable. gland 25. The inner'end 27 of the pipe 23 is located ina fluid-tight compartment 29 having an outlet31, to which the` pipe' or conduit 15 leading to the'burner 13 is connected so that the'v fluid `power mediumfenteringthe chamber 29 through thepipe 23, may be'thence delivered through the pipe 15 to the burner 13.

Within the chamber 29 isa valve comprising a disk or pad.33 carredon the end of an arm 35, which is pivo-ted `to rotate with a shaft 37. The

. pad 33 normally overliesand sealingly covers the end 27 of the fuel conduit but upon ro-tation of Y the shaft 37, the pad 33rnay loe-,raised to permit fueljto be delivered into the compartment .29. The shaft 37 is journaled by means of 'airtight packing nuts 38.in opposite walls of the compartment 29`.and extends outwardly-into a compartment 39 formed in the casing 21` to contain' the valve operating and time delay mechanism. The *portion ofv the shaft 37 extending Yin the Vcornpartment 39 carries a lever `arm'41, which extends downwardly of the shaft' 37'to a point 43 Y opposite the operating mechanism ThusV the arm extends forwardly paralleling the operating `mechanism 45. l This forwardlyextendingportionof the arm is ormay be provided withla slot 47, Whiclrcurls upwardly as at 49 opposite the ofl which areformed as a gear 63 andan adjacent Y `collar 65, the ,external surfaces of which are cylindrical to receive ahook 67, which has a ,oircular cut-out portion69 to t upon the cylindrical portion 65. The spaced portions and 57 of the frame` carry guides comprising rods Y71 which extend substantially parallel withthe shaft 51 and against the underside of which the upper flat'edge 73 of the hook 67 slidingly engages to holdthe hook upon the collar 65. The hook 67 carriesV a rearwardly extending pin 75 which pro- Yjects and engages in the elongatedslot 47 ofthe sleeve operating arm 41 and it will be obvious that as theshaftY 51 is turned, the internally threaded nut,l being held from rotation, willV be shifted axially along the shaft and will move therpin75 longitudinally in the slot 47. Conversely if the shaftf51 is held against rotation, andthe internally threaded nut is rotated, the nut may be caused to travel axially along the shaft thus moving the pin A.75 longitudinally in the slot 47.

When the internally threaded nut is at the left` hand end of itsitravel along the portion 53 of the shaft 51, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the pin 75 ,will be inthe curved portion 49 ofthe slotand'the arm 35 willhave been moved downwardlyto a position in which the member t 33'seals the opening 27 of the lfuelinlet pipe. .v If

now thefsliaftblV is rotated inthe proper direction, the internally threadednut will be moved along the; shafttoward the rright. When this movement" commences the arm 41' will be raised to the position shown inFigure 2 of the drawings, the pin 75moving into the straight Vportion of the slot 147. The valve 33 will Vthusbe opened .andfuel will be admitted into the ,chamber 29 and'thence into the pipe 15 and be delivered to the power operating devicelll.

The shaftl is rotated byr means of amanually operable handlef77, accessible from outside of the casing 21, which operates, through a coin controlledv device 79 and a train' of gears 81, to rotate" the pinion 61l carried on the end of the shaft 51. The control device 79v comprises acasing 81 mounted in an opening 83 in theV frame 19 by means of a lug 85 formed in a flanged portion r87 of the casing, which ange is adapted to fit into the upper edge of the opening 83 and the flange 87 may be'fastened to the frame 19 by means of nuts andbolts 89 securing the lower portion ofv the flange 87to the frame, the upper portion of the'flange being inteittingly held on the casing by means of the lug 85. Cutwardly of the flange 87 extends a housing portion having an opening 121 centrally of the flange at oneV end of the housing through which the contentslof the housing may be introduced into the housing and which opening is closed by a vcover 119.V TheV casing. VThe top of the casingY also is provided Y with a slot adapted torreceivei'a coin or token and the shaft 91 -is located ydirectlyand vertically beneath the slot 95 and has a diametrioal slot 97 which is adapted to register with the casing slot 95 when 'the shaft is rotated. Y

vertically beneath the shaft 91 is a second shaft 99, the outer endof which extends through th'e wall-93 and is attached to the handle 77 to be` rotated thereby. The outer wall 93 of the casing is also provided with bosses 101 providing shoulders adapted to form cooperating stops-with a flange 103 formed on the handle 77 so thatthe handle may be rotated only sufficiently to turn the shaft 99 through 180.' The shaft 99 is also provided with a slot 105 adapted to be aligned with the slot 97 of the shaft 91 and the slot 95 of the casing. The shaft 99 carries a shell-like member Yso 107 having a semi-cylindrical portion'l109vwhich partially encloses the shaft 99 andaportion 1111 which bears against the inner` surface oflthewall 93 and has gear teethformed on its outer pee riphery, which teeth engage a pinion. 1113'fo`rmed on the shaft 91 sothat when; the` shaft 99is turned,` the shaft 91` will turn with it insuchva way that the slot 97 willbe aligned with'theslot .to lie between the shafts whenever the handle"77 is" intermediate its `extreme position'. -This is a fool-proof feature in order to `prevent inexperienced persons from inserting coinsfand jamming the mechanism. The inner end of the.- shaft 99 is pointed and bears in a depressionlfo-rrned in a rotatable plate`115 which iscarriedA ona -shaft 117 which is `journaled in the cover :plate 119. The plate 119 is in turn fastened to the=casing 81r and closes.- the openingi121 through which the parts enclosed inthe housing 81 are assembled in position therein. y

The 7plate 119 also forms a journal for thefinner end'of the shaft 91- and is or may be fastened to the casing 81 by means of set screws or other suit'- able fastening devices. Thedisk carries a pin 123 which extends inwardly imposition to be engaged by a coin or token 125 when the same is received inthe slot l05fof the shaft 99."- When the handle is shifted to one of its extreme 'p osi-l tiens, the slots 95, `9'1 and 105 fwiu bein alignment. The upper edgeof the portion 109 isjrelieved` so. that a coin inserted in the; slot 95 Amay pass through -theslot 97 andenter theslot 105; The lower edge of the semi-cylindricalfportion 109, however,` is extendedforwardly to `underlie l the lower edge of the coinand support it in-place.

1f the handle 1v is now shifted, the com-125 will be'rotatedin place and will engage the pin 123 and willrotate the disk 115.

The outer end of thefshaft "1l7 on which `the` disk 115 is carried, carries a'gear 127 which comprises the first element of the gear train Blf'which is arrangedto rotate the pinonl of the shaftl several times in response tothe movement of the handle 77 through 180 between itsitwo positions defined by the abutments 101. When vthehandle is turned through 180",` the coin-willbe inverted to a position permitting it to fall out'ofthefslot` 105 through a slot 129inthe bottomL of the casing 81. This slot opens'into a compartment 131 formed in the casing'21 from which the coins may be 1 removed by duly authoriedl persons through a door 133, which is provided' with alock 135. It will `thus be seen that'by depositing a coinand turning the handle 57, the shaft 51 may be rotated to shift'the. internally-[threadedcol lar axially with respect to the shaftl so asto openthevalvelB. l 'Y 'i y I prefer to form theL device of my present iiivention` to receive quarter dollars', since this is the most convenient monetary unit. coins than the quarter dollar maynot work satisfactorily in connection with the 'pin 123, while larger coins than the quarter `dollar are scarce enough so that the user of thefmachine might be inconvenienced if it was necessary to find a larger is set for operation.

. One of the gears 137 of the'gear train 81 has `Smaller 147-of aY clock 149, whichisymountedon the 'frame 19within the'casing 21vso that each time .1

the handle 77 is manipulated to drive the gear train 81, the gear train 143 will also tension vthe spring of theclock andset the sameinfmotion'.

The clock drives a. shaft `151 carrying.. a pinion 153 whichdrives a trainof gears 155,`the terminal gear .157' of whichmesheswith the teeth of an `elongated `pinion 159 whichA is jour'nalled` at its vopposite :ends-iin. the spaced apart-f portions 55 and 57 of theframe 19; lTheelongated pinion 159 extendsj parallel to zthe shaft 51 in position to engage the gears 63 `formed in the periphery of the: internally threaded collar. :After the handle 77 has beenmanipulated, as heretofore described,

to shift;` the Ainternally threaded member` on the shaft 51 tothe Vright, viewingV Figure 2 ofthe drawings,` theshaft=51remains stationary. Y The clockwork device,r however, has i beeny simultane-` ously conditioned for operation and vwill rotate vthe piniong1'59throughthe train of Vgears, 155.`

Rotation. of the pinion Y159 through the gearswill causerotation of the internally threaded member on thev threaded portion of the shaft 51 and this will result in the gradual. movement of the internallyr threaded member towardthe'left, viewing .Figurev2 of the drawings. .The time required for the collarto returnto the valve closing position dependsuupon the `distance that the internally threaded member was moved to the right in con# ditioning the device for *operation` andthe return movementfof the1 collar' will result inthe pin 75 travelling into the curved portion` 49: of the slot 17v and1 closingV the valve 33.

. The deviceis preferably built so that the internally-threaded `member, is1moved a fractional part ofthe distance between -thevertically spaced portions'55 and 57 in response to each setting operation of the handle 77 and it is Aobvious that the handle 77 may be operated several times in successionby depositing quarter dollars succes'- sively ,inthe slot 95 rin order to shift the threadedk member toa position at the extreme right kend of the threaded portion of the shaft 51, viewing Figure^2 of the drawings. 'In this way, the 4device maybe set to operate over a period several times as long asthe period of operation provided for vby the deposit of a single quarter dollar.

f 'Inorder' to provide avisual indication of the length of'v time for which the device `may be set to operate,fI`form arwindow`161` in the outer wall of the casing 21, whichwndowis' elongated and extends adjacent thepath travelled by the internally threaded member andthe yoke 67 carried thereby."A`pointer 163 is carried by the yoke in positionftoV sweep *across behind the window 161 and thevwindow isor `may beV graduated as indicated at 165 to Vindicate the instantaneous posif4 tion of the internally threaded member.

'In Figure 5 of the drawings,` Lhave shown continuously operated timing device 149', which maybe arranged in thehousing'in place of .the e intermittently operated spring driven clockwork` e mechanism -149 illustrated in fFigure 2. When a continuouslyY operatedreturn drive for-the internally threaded collarisutilizedythe gear! train 143 is eliminated'and the clock is powered from an'external source of electrical energy through theconductors 143'.V I'he clockfrota'tes the elon-V gated pinion 1591 continuously through `the 'gear train but some provision has to be madefor releasing the gearY 63 from driving engagement is accomplished by forming Athe internally threaded collarintwo portions, one of which, `G', forms the collar carrying the hook 67 and is permanent- Y ly threaded upon the shaft 51 The other portion forms the gear 63', which is-not'threaded to the shaft51 but whichis connected to the collar portion 65 rby means of a friction clutch 64 so that when the internally threaded collar reaches the valve closing position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, theV gearv portion 63 may continue to rotate but will not drive thercollar further along the shaft, the friction clutch permittingslipperage betweenthe driving'and driven parts.; Y vFigure 6 of the drawingsshows the details of construction of thevalve. 33 and it will be noted Y i that the valve closingzdisk or pad has av permanently open restrictedaperture 1165 through which a Vminimal quantity of the vpower medium, may

Vescape in the chamber 29 tov thus provide suincient fuel to keep-burning thepilot lightl'? in order to maintain standby conditions inthe device being operated.A Y

It is thought'that the inventionjand numerous ofV its attendantY advantages will be understood from'the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made inthe form;

construction and 'arrangement of thevseveral parts without departing from the spirit or'scope of my invention orsacriiicing any of its attendantY advantages; the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating my invention.

Having thus describedv my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows: f'

1. A control for useV in combination with the power supply connection iofa-,power operated device, comprising control mea-ns to regulate the iiow of a power medium tothe devicathreaded operating means to open andclose the control l:means alternately to permit and prevent thev flow vof rthe medium, means to actuate the threaded operating means in one direction to open .the control means, `and. Acontinuously operating Ydrive,

vmeans to actuate-the threadedoperating means ina reverse direction to close thev control means, said last mentioned. means comprising yielding clutch means to discontinue the driving effect on the threaded operating means when said control means is at the end offitsrclosing movement.

2. AV device -of the `class described comprising means to regulate the ow of a powervmedium toV apower consuming device, comprising a shiftable control member; and means, to shift the control member, `comprising, a turnalolev` shaft and a nut mountedon the` shaft, means torotate the shaft to cause relative longitudinalmovement between the nut yand the shaft in one, direction for operating` the control member, and v means including a yielding clutch to `turn the-nut on the shaft toimpart relative longitudinal movement' between the nut and the shaft in the opposite direction. l

3. A device of the class,.describedcomprising a shiftable control; membergforregulatingthe flow of. a powermedium to a power consuming device,` and means, to shift thecontrol member, comprising a'turnable shaft, .a nut threaded on the Vshaft,means to rotate the shaft to cause relative longitudinal movement between thexnut and the` shaft-in one direction to actuate the control` member tovpermit the power medium toV iiow to the power consuming` device and means includinga yielding clutch to turn the nut on the with the threaded portion of the shaft 51. V'I'hisfshaft to impart relative movement between the nut vand the shaft in the oppositeY direction to operate the control'member to restrict the flow of the power medium, saidyielding clutch operatingV normally .to drive the nut toward powerow restricting position butyielding to permitA the nutto lock with the shaft when Vit reaches a. predetermined axial position thereon.

4. A device of theclassdescribed, comprising a shiftable control member for vregulating the flow of a power* medium to a power consuming device, and, means, to shift the control member,

comprising a turnablershaft, a nut threadedon the shaft, means to rotate the shaft to cause relative longitudinal movement betweenY the nut and the shaft in one` directionY and; driving means comprising a prime mover and an'elongated gear driven bythe prime mover andY extending partermined .point on its axial travel on the shaft.

5. A device of theclass describedcomprising a shiftable `control member-to regulate the `flow Y of a power medium toapower-consuming device, and operating means,fto shiftA the control member, Vcomprising a threaded shaft,'a nut threaded on the shaft, coin-controlled conditioning means manually operable to relatively rotate the nut and shaft inrorder to cause relative longitudinal movement between the nut andthe shaft in a direction for operating the control member to permitthe power medium to ow, means includ- `ing a continuously .operating constant-speed 'drivingdevice and meansforming a driving connection between the driving device and operating means to turn the nut ,on` the shaft-in a direction to cause relative Vaxial movement therebetween a direction causing the control member to assume a position preventing the flow of the power YIned iurrn,said connecting -means including a yieldable coupling adapted to permitthe nut to remain stationary on the shaft whenat a limit ofrits axial movement thereon.

6. A control,Y for usein combination with'the power supply-,connection off a power-consuming device, comprisingcontrol means to regulate the flow of 4a power medium to said device, threaded operating means vto open, and close the control means in order to permit or prevent the flow of the medium, coin-controlled means for actuating the threaded operating means in one direction to open the control means, and means to drive the threaded operating means in a reverse direction to closeV the control means comprising a continuously operating constant-speed motor and a driving connection from the motor to the operating means including a non-positive clutch adapted to normally transmit driving movement and adapted .to yield when the control means reaches closed position. l 7. A control device of the class described comprisinga (zo-operating pair o f threaded members, means to rotate one of said lmembers while holding the other from rotation whereby to shift said other axially, control means operable inresponse ing clutcln operatively associated with said,4

motor and` one of said co-operatingmembers whereby to rotate said member with respect to its companion member in orderzto return said member axially on its said companion ymemberl whereby, after a predetermined time delay, to operate the control to prevent thev flow of `power to the power consuming device, said clutch normally functioning to rotate said member on its companion member but yielding to permit said member to remain stationary withrespect to its companion member when it reaches the floW stopping position.

8. In combination with'a iluidsupply conduit, a valve for controllingthe flow of fluid through closing Vsaidvalve comprising a screw memberv and a nut member threaded thereon, manually operable coin control means for turning one ofsaid members while the other is prevented from turning, ,whereby to relatively shift said members axially in order to open the valve, a `constant v speed, continuously-operating motor, and a driving connection including yielding clutch means operatively connected between said motor and one of said members whereby to rotate said member while its companion member is held from rotation in order to axially shift said members relatively in a'direction to close said valve, said clutch means being adapted to yieldin order to permit said members to lremain stationary without further relatively angular movement therebetween When the members reach valve-closing position. said conduit, operating means for opening and CHARLES BENSONDUSHANE, Jn. 

